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This website is no longer open to comments or maintained; I've moved to a new home at Nature Geek

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Entomology. Ranting. Nerdery.

Bug Girl will Not Diagnose You

This statement has been added to the side menu pages. Comments welcome.

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I get many, many emails from people. Some of these emails (and comments) say things like “I think I have a dangerous parasite” or “worms are coming out of my skin” and requesting my help in diagnosing their illness.

While I am sympathetic, I will not diagnose you over the internet.

I can suggest some potential causes, but my first advice will always be “SEE YOUR DOCTOR.”

Seriously. If you have a medical condition that is causing you enough distress to contact a random person on the internet and tell them details about your anus or other bodily orifices, it’s time to visit the doctor.

If your current doctor isn’t helping you, try a new doctor. Some are better than others.

I’m sorry to be blunt. I have eczema, and I certainly understand the difficulty of an endless itch that never goes away and never gets better. But I’m afraid I can’t tell you what might have bitten you, or what might be living under your skin.

It’s turned into a real internet phenomenon lately. I’ve been meaning to write about it (I’ve had a half-written piece in the works for months, lol), but I’m not sure the best way to do it justice. I have every sympathy for those genuinely suffering with something, but I feel like this aggressive internet community that has sprung up is not helping anyone. I’ve even had trackback spam at The Lay Scientist from a Morgellons website…

I found an ant behaving really oddly, running in a small clock-wise circle. (For at least 20 minutes, probably more.) I was able to video-tape it. If you have a minute, could you look at it and tell me if you have any idea as to why it’s doing this?

The list of plants that cause skin problems does not include poison ivy, poison oak or poison sumac for some strange reason. And the link to a Canadian site from that link isn’t about any kind of dermatitis.

This post made me feel guilty for all the times I’ve peed in a stream and wondered if that fish that swims up pee streams might have found its way to the Pacific Northwest. ;) I promise not to ask about it.

Apparently the only people more sought after for overshares about bodily stowaways are the SEM people. Our microscopist is plagued by calls about parasites no one has been able to confirm.

I have a related problem with my Birding Blog…people get the idea I can cure or give a diet for their parrots, canaries, owls, toucans, falcons and all sorts of birds, im a biologist not a vet so hmm its complicated.

The fish you’re thinking of is actually an eel, called a “Candiru”. I met one while I was in the Amazon last year, but didn’t get a photo myself. However, you can see one post-extraction on my blog here: http://layscience.net/?q=node/128

(P.S., really don’t go to that page if you’re eating, have eaten, or are planning to eat)